法華玄論 4.86

4.86

Answer: Some say that the thirty mental stages are the proper stage of the vehicle. Some say that ascending the bhūmis is the proper stage of the vehicle. Some say that the eighth bhūmi is the proper stage of the vehicle. Some say that at first one attains the expedient means but lacks the proper substance; second, one attains the proper substance but lacks the expedient means; third, one attains both simultaneous contemplation and the vehicle's substance, but lacks non-simultaneous contemplation and the vehicle's expedient means; hence all three meanings are present. The thirty mental stages are the expedient means, ascending the bhūmis is the proper substance, the eighth bhūmi is the simultaneous vehicle, and the seventh bhūmi is the non-simultaneous vehicle. Appraising this: although the last interpretation captures the sūtra text, its meaning is not yet satisfactory. I shall now state it. The chapter 'Inquiring into the Vehicle' states: 'This vehicle has no beginning and no end; it does not depart from the three realms, nor does it abide in sarvajñā.' As the sūtra explains extensively: if one wishes to have the vehicle depart, does this person wish to have the patient acceptance of the non-arising of dharmas depart, or wish to have the dharma of ultimate truth depart? However, the reality limit is non-arising, and the reality limit does not depart; the vehicle also has no departure. Because the vehicle has no departure, it has no beginning and no end, is neither cause nor effect; such a vehicle is precisely what is called 'departing.'